"but it wouldn`t let me" What a *mean* computer(!) Probably there was an actual (specific) error message, but rather than cling to the faint hope that it will be revealed, likely simpler to use Derek's offering Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid. -John Wayne

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thanks derek...i sent you an email reply....couldn`t download the file... chris

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Chris, if you have a win98 CD, you have to look in the win98_28.cab.

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For info, Chris's email wouldn't accept .com attachments so have changed extension and sent it again. ham30 Posters machine is said to be W98"SE". On my W98SE CD win.cnf is only in win98_25.cab DerekW

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ham30 Just re-read your post, I realise now that is what you said. DerekW

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Chris Just in case that email backfires again, this is the DOS command you use to get win.cnf off a W98SE CD (using E drive) and into c:\windows extract e:\win98\win98_25.cab win.cnf /L c:\windows Use 28 instead of 25 if it's a W98FE CD (as given by ham30). Rename it from win.cnf to win.com when it gets to c:\windows You have to get the command "exactly" right and note down any error message you might get. DerekW

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Another source; Both cnf files It's a good day when you learn something

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thanks for the specific syntax, derekw, that did actually work....i was advised by microsoft support before that i should use the extract command on the win98 cdrom by typing 'ext'. i did try the floppy extract but you had to know a bit more what you were doing with that, the one on the cdrom just asked you questions. so, first problem sorted, i extract the .cnf file and then 'ren' it and restart the puter. this time it goes passed the windows splash screeen but then tells me it needs to check the drive because it hadn`t been shutdown properly. does that and then the splash screen flashes back up and then it shuts down the puter. i srat it again and it tells me that 'himem.sys' is missing so i copy the one over from my floppy and restart the pc. thid time i get a blue screen telling me 'vfat device initialisation failed'. i look that up and microsoft say it has something to do with the 'Ifshlp.sys' file. i`m looking into that but may need to extract another file, any help would be welcome. chris

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also remembered that the entries in the config.sys file seemed too few when i looked at it....just wondering if my friend had started to re-install the operating system and that`s why so many of the files are missing..... any idea which of the cab files the 'ifshlp.sys' file is located? chris

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First, apologies for 2nd email with missing attachment. Not so sure whether it's going to help but if you want to replace Ifshlp.sys (which also goes into c:\windows) its this: extract e:\win98\win98_52.cab ifshlp.sys /L c:\windows (assuming W98SE CD). If you are half way through a re-install it could be in a bit of a mess but we shall see. Autoexec.bat and Config.sys are not essential for Windows to start. If either of them got screwed they could cause more problems than they are worth. Might be worth disabling them for now by renaming them: ren c:\autoexec.bat autoexec.ba- ren c:\config.sys config.sy- The only thing that you might need (later) is a DOS virus scan line in autoexec.bat - some AV's, such as AVG, put one there. DerekW

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right, extracted the file and renamed auto and config, restarted, it then defaulted to safe mode and did load in safe mode correctly. i restarted from windows safe mode and it tried to load normally but only got as far as the splash and then just beyond, when a message appeared very quickly(too quickly to see i`m afraid) and then promptly shutdown. tried to start again and it did the same thing all over again. now i`m really stuck. chris

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Can you still start in Safe Mode? If so right click My Computer and go to Properties/Device Manager. Have a look in there to see if there are any errors showing (usually yellow question marks or red things). All of the entries expand out to sub-headings if you double click them. The reason I'm suggesting this is because Safe Mode uses minimal drivers so it might be a driver issue. Might be a modem/usb problem if this happened after new broadband modem. DerekW

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i tried that but when i clicked on 'system' in control panel it came up with an error.... "Cannot find the file 'c:\windows\rundll.exe' (or one of its components?. Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available." so i take it that rundll.exe is missing? lol what else is missing i have to ask.....he did actually start to re-install windows because i asked him, not sure just how far he got..... krispee

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Makes me wonder what is left in c:\windows folder, although if you are making it in Safe Mode then it's fairly hopeful I suppose. Anyhow, if you are game to try the command is: extract e:\win98\win98_46.cab rundll.exe /L c:\windows I wonder if the next one will be rundll32.exe ... a fair guess I reckon. If it comes to the crunch you might have to consider overlaying Windows over the top. Happy to keep doing this as long as you wish. I'm in UK so not sure if things might get slow due to time zone differences. Incidentally there is a quicker way to Device Manager. Right click My Computer then Properties. You will see the tab there. The drivers issue might be a red herring as it seems the main problem is files that have gone missing. DerekW

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again, that worked ok and i rebooted into safe mode in order to check whether there was a rundll32.exe on the pc, and there wasn`t....as you suspected lol is that file in the same 'cab' as the previous rundll file? i`m also from the uk so no time problems there....and thankyou again for taking the time to help, really appreciate it....i`d have been in a bit of a jam otherwise... chris

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Sorry, been AWOL. Yep rundll32.exe is also in 46.cab and goes in c:\windows. I guess you are an expert at this by now. DerekW

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at using the extract command yeah, but where to find the darn things, haven`t got a clue lol i mean there are about 70 odd of those cab files aren`t there? i think you`re the expert here.... anyway, better sort that last one out.... chris

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I used to wade through all the cab files using Winzip and got quite used to knowing where to look. These days I cheat with a freebie program which finds them for me. I run W98SE and have all the cab files on my HD anyway. Just to encourage you, I've 457 folders and sub-folders in Windows, with 8271 files. But, as I say, you get to Safe Mode so perhaps with a few more critical ones replaced you will make it to normal Windows. I suspect there will be a few error messages and programs needing installing again after that. We'll see how it shakes out but part re-installation mess-up's can often be fiddly to sort out without Windows overlay. The registry is likely to a bit muddled which doesn't help. Some signs of hope though. DerekW

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um, right, i think i might have screwed things up a bit lol.....the second rundll file went through ok and it booted into safe mode again....then i searched through the devices to see if there was a problem and an unknown USB device was showing a problem so i removed that and the modem software just to be on the safe side.... now it won`t even boot into safe mode...gets just passed the splash page and then powers down.... so, looks like i shouldn`t have done one of those 2 things..... bummer! chris

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Hey, we will never know if rundll32.exe would have got you to normal Windows. Sure, with hindsight you shouldn't have done that but I can't see why it had the effect it did. I think you would be best advised to reload Windows on top again and hope for the best. You just bung in your boot disk and power on. From the options select "boot with CD-ROM support". Your CD drive will temporarily move up one letter (uses the usual letter for a RAM drive). If you watch the screen while booting it gives you the info. Bung in your W98SE CD and have your Product Key handy (probably won't need it tho). At the command prompt type E: and hit Return key. Now type setup (hit Return) and await Bill Gates. In the above I've assumed your normal CD letter is D (hence I've said E), so adjust if necessary. Good luck DerekW

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thanks, derek, i guess that`s the only thing to do now....my only concern was making sure no information or data would be lost on the drive as a result of re-installiing the os.....my friend was most concerned about that....he has emails and data that he hadn`t backed up.... chris

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Late on tonight. All your own stuff will be safe. At the worst some personal settings might have to be set up again, possibly the odd program will need re-installing, or some updates. Sounds like the system is in a good old muddle. Should go OK, done it many times in the past. Squeeky clean reformat is best but you lose the lot that way. DerekW

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well, did a re-install and everything worked fine, except that i had to install win98 FE first then SE next it went as planned.....thankyou for your help in all this.... i will gladly hand the computer back to my friend lol chris

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One of those cases (with glorious hindsight) where it's a pity we didn't go that way before. Ah well, probably a useful learning excercise on the way. Glad to have helped and good to hear it's working again. DerekW

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